A rain bomb – some have called the event – of last Thursday night and Friday morning. An upper atmosphere low-pressure cell formed in line with the Illawarra Coast and remained almost stationary.
Kiama was pounded with 125mm (5 inches in the old measure) with more on Friday.
Severe flooding resulted in Albion Park & in the south, while Greenwell Point recorded 360 mills in a little over nine hours. NSW SES and Fire and Rescue crews also assisted staff and residents at a Culburra Beach retirement complex that suffered some flooding.
Later to the north, Bellambi was deluged, resulting in severe flooding. Later the system moved slowly towards Sydney.
Train services on the South Coast line were suspended, and roads were cut. Trains were not running yesterday between Kiama and Shellharbour Junction in both directions due to damaged equipment.
A limited bus service replaced trains between Kiama and Shellharbour Junction. Train services heading towards Sydney were less frequent, and trips extended in time between Wollongong and Waterfall.
Transport NSW should be checked for the latest updates for today. More storms were forecast for the area late yesterday and overnight.
The storms and heavy run-off have raised concerns about beach water quality and the recommendation is to not go into the surf at Kiama beaches for a few days. The Continental Rock Pool at School Flat is closed due to a landslip.